Glorious highs and inglorious lows of Rolls-Royce

An all-new Rolls-Royce Phantom has just arrived (pictured) and soon we’ll see the BMW subsidiary’s first ever SUV, the Cullinan.

Few would have predicted even a decade ago that the most prestigious and exclusive motoring brand in the world would build an off-roader, but in an age where even Ferrari is embracing the SUV, it’s become inevitable. From relatively humble beginnings, here’s how Rolls-Royce went from building two-cylinder cars to some of the world’s most expensive and exclusive V8- and V12-powered luxury saloons, coupés, convertibles – and shortly an SUV too.

Royce 10HP (1904)

This is where it all started; the original Rolls-Royce, built in Manchester and fitted with a two-cylinder 1809cc engine driving the rear wheels via a three-speed manual gearbox. Three were made and none survive, but Charles Rolls drove one of these and decided he needed to form a partnership with its maker Henry Royce, to build the best cars in the world.

Rolls-Royce 10HP (1904)

The first car sold as a Rolls-Royce and also the first to feature the Grecian radiator that would become one of the most widely recognised features of the marque. The 1809cc engine was carried over but in 1905 this was uprated to a 1995cc unit. Just 16 were made, several of which survive.

Rolls-Royce 40/50HP (1906)

It was this model that brought Rolls-Royce its reputation for building the world’s finest cars. The 13th example built (and pictured here) is the Silver Ghost, but unofficially all 6173 cars made carry the nickname. Power came from a 7036cc side-valve straight-six and there was a choice of wheelbases – the longest of which was a rather generous 12 feet. A facelift in 1909 brought an even bigger engine that now displaced 7428cc.

Rolls-Royce Phantom I (1925)

This is where the Phantom line started – with a car originally known as the New Phantom, not that there was an old one. An overhead-valve 7668cc straight-six was fitted to give over 100bhp and a top speed of more than 80mph. At a time when most cars were on the verge of expiry at 60mph.

Rolls-Royce 20/25 (1929)

One of the best-known of the pre-war Rolls-Royce models, the 20/25 grew out of the 20HP that arrived in 1922. With its 3669cc straight-six the 20/25 was capable of 70mph, which was impressive for the time. Production lasted until 1936, with 3827 examples built.

Rolls-Royce Phantom II (1929)

Whereas the New Phantom was derived from the 40/50HP of 1906, the Phantom II was an all-new car, albeit one still fitted with the 7668cc straight-six of its predecessor. Capable of 85mph and with 1767 built, this is reckoned to be the best car to come from Rolls-Royce between the wars.

Rolls-Royce Phantom III (1935)

Three decades after its first two-cylinder car was launched, Rolls-Royce unveiled its first V12-powered model. The Phantom III brought in a new chassis and engine but the latter proved unreliable at first. It was thirsty too; while Autocar was pleased to report a 87mph top speed from our road test, we also saw just 10 miles-per-gallon (8.4 mpg per US gallon).

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (1946)

Rolls-Royce had introduced a Wraith in 1938, but that survived for just a year thanks to the outbreak of war. The Silver Wraith was an important car for Rolls-Royce as it was the first to be built in the company’s new Crewe factory; before then all of its cars had been made in the company’s original production facility on the outskirts of Derby. Launched in 1946, the Silver Wraith remained in production all the way through to 1959.

Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn (1949)

A landmark car for Rolls-Royce, because until now it sold customers a chassis and they then had to get a body built on it. But not with the Silver Dawn, which was supplied complete and  aimed at owner/drivers; its predecessors were aimed at those who were driven everywhere. Power initially came from a 4257cc straight-six, enlarged to a 4566cc unit in 1951.

Rolls-Royce Phantom IV (1950)

The Holy Grail for collectors, just 18 examples of the Phantom IV were built. Available only to heads of state and royals, mere money wasn’t enough to get onto the waiting list. The only Roller to be fitted with a straight-eight engine, those who were lucky enough to acquire a new Phantom IV include the Aga Khan, the Shahs of Persia and Iran, plus HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I (1955)

Taking over where the Silver Dawn left off, the Silver Cloud was perhaps the most graceful car ever made. Also available in Bentley Series 1 form, the Silver Cloud initially featured a 4887cc straight-six, but when the Silver Cloud II arrived in 1959 it introduced us to Rolls-Royce’s legendary V8, albeit it in 6230cc form. The Silver Cloud III of 1962 also used this – but featured four headlamps instead of two.

Rolls-Royce Phantom V (1959)

Taking over the from the Silver Wraith, the Phantom V was an imposing machine based on a stretched Silver Cloud II chassis. That meant a 6230cc V8, four-speed automatic gearbox and drum brakes all round. Famously, John Lennon owned a Phantom V with an especially lurid colour scheme; the Queen’s was finished in a rather more sober black.

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (1965)

The Silver Shadow marked a turning point for Rolls-Royce as this was the first monocoque car to come from the company. Featuring all-independent self-levelling suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and initially a 6.2-litre V8, from 1970 this was swapped for the 6.75-litre V8 that would become synonymous with the marque for decades to come.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VI (1968)

There was little to separate the Phantom V from its successor, which arrived almost a decade later. There was a new dashboard but the brakes were still drums all round while the transmission was a three-speed auto. It’s fair to say that the Phantom VI was traditional rather than a trail-blazer... The first cars got a 6.2-litre V8 which gave way to a 6.75-litre version in 1979.

Rolls-Royce Corniche (1971)

Two-door Silver Shadows had been offered in coupé and convertible forms since 1966, but from 1971 they were marketed as a separate model known as the Corniche. The coupé was killed off in 1981 but the convertible survived all the way through to 1995, in Corniche IV guise.

Rolls-Royce Camargue (1975)

Pininfarina has produced some astonishingly beautiful designs over the years but this wasn’t one of them. When launched in 1975 the Camargue was the world’s most expensive car at almost £30,000 (equivalent to £240,000 or US$331,000 today) – a figure that would rise sharply over the coming years. Yet underneath it all, the Camargue was merely a reskinned Silver Shadow. Just 531 were built in an 11-year production run.

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (1977)

A major facelift for the Silver Shadow in 1977 brought rack-and-pinion steering, a new dash, split-level air-con and a design refresh. The model was now known as the Silver Shadow II or for added exclusivity you could buy a long-wheelbase edition, badged Silver Wraith II.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit (1980)

The 1970s were an interesting period for Rolls-Royce. The company - which was primarily focused on making aircraft engines - was nationalised in 1971, then in 1980 the car making side was transferred to defence firm Vickers, at which point the fresh start was marked with the arrival of the Silver Spirit. Underneath it was still basically a Silver Shadow but there was an all-new body.

While Silver Shadow values have climbed sharply in recent years, the Silver Spirit remains by far the most affordable Roller – although the running costs are another matter.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit III (1993)

The Silver Spirit remained in production for an incredible 19 years, with no shortage of changes along the way. The Silver Spirit II of 1989 brought computer-controlled suspension while the Silver Spirit III that arrived in 1993 featured a more powerful V8 – although Rolls-Royce still refused to say just how powerful.

There was also a long-wheelbase edition called the Silver Spur, while the Silver Dawn that made its debut in 1996 was fitted with a light-pressure turbo V8.

Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (1998)

When it comes to cars that deserved a better fate, perhaps none is more highly qualified than the Silver Seraph. It arrived in 1998 just as VW/Audi had taken over Rolls-Royce and Bentley, only to discover that it had to sell the former to BMW. The result was an all-new car that remained in production for just three years, powered by a BMW-sourced 326bhp 5.4-litre V12. Just 1570 were made.

Rolls-Royce Corniche V (2000)

The forgotten Rolls-Royce, just 347 examples of the Corniche V were made – not surprising really when you consider that it was priced at $360,000 on its launch in the US, while the UK price was £250,000. It looked like a drophead Seraph but was actually based on the Bentley Azure that had made its debut in 1995 – the first time that a Rolls had been based on a Bentley rather than the other way round.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VII (2003)

The start of a new beginning for Rolls-Royce under BMW’s ownership, 99 years after the marque had made its debut. Built in a new factory at Goodwood in southern England, the Phantom was massive, imposing and expensive, just as you’d expect. Despite weighing 2500kg (5500 lb) the Phantom could still sprint from 0-62mph in under six seconds, thanks to the 454bhp 6749cc V12 in the nose.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé (2007)

We got our first glimpse of the Drophead Coupé in 2004 with the unveiling of the 100EX concept, but it would be another three years before a production model was in showrooms. 

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé (2007)

With its rear-hinged coach doors, 6.75-litre V12, massive proportions and £260,000 price tag there was nothing else like it – not even from arch-rival Bentley.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé (2008)

First shown as the 101EX concept at the 2004 Geneva motor show, the production car wouldn’t arrive for another four years. It brought a unique option yet to be matched elsewhere: a headlining covered in optic fibres to give the appearance of a night sky. Sounds tacky – but looks great.

Rolls-Royce Ghost (2010)

A (slightly) smaller Rolls, the Ghost was available from £190,000 when it appeared in 2009, or $245,000 in the US. First shown in 200EX concept form in 2009, just a year later the production version arrived, with a twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. In 2011 an Extended Wheelbase version appeared, three years before the Ghost II went on sale with a raft of more high-tech equipment.

Rolls-Royce Wraith (2015)

Based on the same platform as the Ghost and featuring the same 6.6-litre V12, the Wraith is rather more than merely a two-door version of the saloon that sired it. This is a car that we would barely change, which is why we pronounced: “The Wraith is a hit, capable of both enchanting and involving all who drive it”.

Rolls-Royce Dawn (2015)

Rolls-Royce may have declared quite clearly that the Dawn is not a Wraith drophead, but in reality that’s what it is. After all, both cars are based on the same platform and share the same engine and running gear – but sadly, while we really rate the Wraith for its dynamic abilities, the Dawn never quite matches its hard-topped sibling.

Rolls-Royce Sweptail (2017)

Until the post-war years, Rolls-Royce supplied a rolling chassis on which a coachbuilder would construct a body. As a result there were all sorts of one-off bodies produced and it was this exclusive way of building cars that led to the Sweptail being made. Rumoured to cost around £10m (US$14 million), the two-door two-seater was based on the platform and running gear of the Phantom VII Coupé.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII (2017)

We’ve already driven the eighth-generation Phantom and we rather liked it, stating that: “in all significant and insignificant ways – the Phantom is the pinnacle, the epitome, of motoring luxury”. Still, with a starting price of around £300,000 (or US$420,000 in America) you’d expect it to be quite talented.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan (2018)

It’s been spotted hurtling round the Nurburgring and testing on ice; when the Rolls-Royce Cullinan arrives next year it’s going to have to be pretty good to compete with the Bentley Bentayga, Aston Martin DBX and Lamborghini Urus. Using the same platform and running gear as the all-new Phantom, the Cullinan will be the SUV for those who have the wherewithal to spend really, really big.